Whiskey Makers Meet County Commission

Just before The Pulse went to press, the owners of Chattanooga Whiskey Co. announced in an email and on their Facebook page their first appearance before Hamilton County Commissioners in their quest to allow Chattanooga Whiskey to be made in Chattanooga (the liquor is currently distilled in Indiana).

Ledbetter and his business partner, Tim Piersant, will go before the Hamilton County Commission at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, to present the economic impact statement they hope will convince commissioners to lift the law banning distilleries in the county. In 2009, state lawmakers approved a law allowing counties the option of legalizing commercial distilleries.

Ledbetter’s #VoteWhiskey Campaign has signed up more than 300 people to stand with them in front of the commissioners. The actual vote will occur on the following Wednesday, Nov. 21.

“We remain optimistic that the commissioners will vote in favor of the resolution that will ask our Tennessee state legislators to add Hamilton County back to the 2009 bill, from which we were originally excluded,” Ledbetter said.